My cousin Heather and her boyfriend Brad were expecting their first child together!

Their little girl has since been born – but I wanted to share some of their photos with you – while they were waiting!

Heather & Brad – thank you for asking me to share in your joy! I am so happy that you are all home now!

I met Jake in college – and then again for his engagement photos and wedding photos with Tara! AND NOW!

They are just about ready to have a baby!!

I ADORE those shots!

Jake & Tara – I am SO HAPPY for you both! Thank you again!!!

When I met with Janelle – she told me about her little guy at home – and he reminded me so much of my Fitzy! I couldn’t wait to meet him!

That little baby leg on her momma’s hip. The small things.

OH MY HEART!

SUCH A SWEET LITTLE GUY!

I LOVE THOSE SHOTS!

And that last one – with his little foot out-of-focus!

LOOK AT THOSE SMILES!

OH MY HEART! I JUST ADORE THOSE ONES!

Janelle & Patrick – THANK YOU AGAIN for being so AWESOME!

I met Janelle after she saw Aszur’s birth photos! She was the first birth client that I hadn’t already known!

We had been texting back and forth and she let me know that she was being induced on Monday April 24th! We kept in touch all day Monday and my in-laws took the boys Monday night just in case something happened in the night or early in the morning! I went to bed around 10:30 and had my phone RIGHT NEXT TO ME! At 2 AM I woke up in a panic and checked my phone – I had a missed text at 11 PM and another at 1 AM – the one at 1 AM was certainly urgent. I texted her back and her husband said – the baby will be here in 5 minutes! It would take me 40 minutes to get there – so I knew I was missing it – but I went anyway!

I felt ABSOLUTELY AWFUL! I said – you should have called me!

But – again.

There was a baby already born and she was beautiful.

So I took the pictures!

I LOVE THOSE SHOTS!

I ABSOLUTELY ADORE THAT LAST SHOT!

OH MY HEART!!

Janelle & Patrick – thank you SO MUCH for being awesome and understanding and just AMAZING!

Thank you SO MUCH for asking me to witness this intimate moment in your lives!

Carie messaged me – with a SURPRISE request!

IT’S A BOY!

Isn’t she a DOLL!

OH MY HEART!

I ABSOLUTELY ADORE THAT LAST SHOT!

SO SWEET!

I CANNOT EVEN DEAL! I LOVE those shots!

Carie & Michael – I AM SO EXCITED FOR YOUR FAMILY! I cannot WAIT to see you this fall!

My friend Ericka – she’s a ROCKSTAR of a momma! She asked if I would photograph the birth of her second sweet baby – OF COURSE!

We had this crazy idea that she wouldn’t make it to her due date – April 4th. On April 3rd – she came over for dinner with her older daughter. We ate and laughed and watched that little baby move around. And then. She said – I think maybe I’m leaking? Maybe. I’m just not sure!

It’s absolutely crazy to me that each birth can be so different and we can forget exactly what happens each time!

So – she texted me around 10 that night and said – she was going to the hospital. And OH! Her water was breaking – so be on baby watch!

I took my phone to bed with me and went to sleep. And waited.

Around 4 AM I got a text saying that she was progressing! So – I figured I would go over and HOPE for a baby before morning when Jared had to go to work! I ate breakfast in quiet. Got a shower real quick without checking on kiddos. And left my driveway at 4:30 – getting a text from her saying she was 5 cm. I made it to Wellsboro – about 20 minutes away – and parked at the ER – got my bags – and went to the desk. Where she told me that I had to go back OUT to the car and drive AROUND the building and go in the back entrance and ask to be let in. ARGH! SERIOUSLY!

So – I got in the room – at 4:51 and that sweet baby was born at 4:49 – YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!

I was so sad. And mad. And then sad again.

BUT – a baby was already born and she was beautiful!

So I took some pictures!

THAT LITTLE FACE! I can’t even deal with her!

AND – she was born on her due date!

Little *R* – you are loved. You are wanted. You were prayed for. You will do wonderful things.

Ericka – YOU are strong. YOU are beautiful. YOU are brave. I LOVE you dear friend!

Ericka and I were pregnant for the first time together! I didn’t know her then but she knew me from my photography and read my blog. We lost that first pregnancy – but she didn’t! Her daughter *J* is exactly the age our first child would be today!

She wanted another baby. And we prayed for years and years.

And then life happened and things changed. But – she IS having another baby! A little girl! Well – she’s already HAD that little baby – but we all know that I’m playing catch-up!

I LOVE THOSE SHOTS!

YES! DO NOT EAT WATERMELON SEEDS!!

I’ve already let Ericka know that as long as this little baby sleeps through the night – I will help her out in ANY way I can!

But not staying up all night with sleepless babies. Did I mention that?

Ericka. You are strong. You are beautiful. You are loved!

The first birth I photographed was of Aszur’s third baby – *J* – Fitzy was only 6 weeks old and everything was so fresh and new and emotional!

Her fourth birth – their first girl – was going to be a little different than her first three experiences! A home birth!

I asked Aszur if she would answer a few questions for this blog post!

This is your 4th birth but your 1st home birth, correct? What made you choose to take this route?

This was my 4th pregnancy. After our 3rd baby was born, a string of events led us to a more natural way of living. So, for almost 6 years we have been eating clean, haven’t used a microwave or even seen a doctor. So the thought of being able to go through my pregnancy and delivery without going to the doctors or hospital really appealed to me. Especially since I wanted to do a water birth and the hospitals won’t allow that to happen. We had also just spent 2 years building our home so a home birth was really exciting!!

2. How was this experience different from each of your previous births?

The home birth was more then I could have hoped for. It got pretty intense during the 15 min of pushing. I was able to work with my midwife and had zero tearing and felt the best I ever felt compared to my other deliveries.

3. Why did you choose to have your birth photographed?

I knew I had to have this birth photographed by a professional because that’s the only way you know you will get the shots! I wanted to be able to look back on this day forever and have beautiful photos that tell our story. Thank you Danielle, again, for doing such an amazing job!!

Aszur & Dave built their dream home last year – COMPLETE WITH FLOOR TO CEILING WINDOWS IN THE LIVING ROOM AND DINING ROOM – I say this because I was DREAMING about the light – the GORGEOUS light that would come through those windows while this baby was being born!

Aszur had texted me Friday morning letting me know that it was starting – but she labors LONG! So I took the boys to my parents and waited. I had a session Saturday afternoon – and she texted me asking if I could come up after that was over – hoping that it would happen soon!

Do you see that light – those BEAUTIFUL windows!

And the light – fading fast! I knelt down and said – I’m going to have words with this little girl! THESE WINDOWS! And she’s going to come in the middle of the night! HOW DARE SHE!

Such an AMAZING support system!

She was NOT happy about more hot water being added!

Aszur was struggling with keeping that washcloth on her head – so I ran upstairs and found a hair band – PERFECT!

Birth is so amazing! I’ve photographed a handful and done it twice – and yet it still amazes me that it can happen!

This is about the time that Aszur started to say – I can’t do it. Can you see her? I can’t.

When a woman starts saying that – you know it’s time!

When I sent the preview to Aszur – she specifically asked for some of the INTENSE pictures to be included!

And just like that – SHE’S HERE!

OH SWEET BABY GIRL!

Her cord was a little short – so she just hung out with momma – making for some GORGEOUS pictures!

OH MY WORD!

The boys woke up to meet their little sister!

If you’re a little squeamish – you might wanna scroll past the next photo! I think the placenta is AMAZING!

When a baby starts developing – we GROW an organ that sustains LIFE! AMAZING!

I LOVE THAT SHOT!

OH MY!!

Aszur & Dave – thank you SO MUCH for allowing me to capture this AMAZING moment in your lives!

I am SO HAPPY FOR YOU!!

 

My cousin Vanessa and her boyfriend Jake were waiting on their first baby – due around Valentine’s Day!

I LOVE THAT SHOT!

Isn’t she BEAUTIFUL! My little cousin. I was 16 when she was born. My sister and I babysat them ALL THE TIME. When I left for college – she was so tiny and it’s hard to imagine her as anything other than the chubby little toddler with the bouncy curls – asking us to spend over the night.

And NOW – NOW – she is having babies of her own. A baby that is 3 years younger than my baby!

I AM NOT PREPARED FOR HOW FAST TIME IS MOVING!

Stay tuned for their newborn session with their little baby GIRL!

Paul & Jennifer were patiently – well not really SO patiently – waiting for their sweet little baby to make his appearance right after the New Year!

Stay tuned for their newborn session!!